Another flight would add another $500 - that's another big chunk! Barb

Almost sure the customs & immigrations luggage check would be done in NRT but KimJapan would know for sure. If they are arriving at 15:00 they have plenty of time. BTW the flights are on ANA(Ibex).

Kim should be up in 5 hours or so

Aloha!

if you qualify for the discounted airfare your price would be 13,000 yen per ticket.....approx $139.00 US in today exchange.

boberg,What airline are you flying in on? It doesn't matter if its an award ticket, all that matters is the airline.

Aloha!

Barb, the fare that HT's getting on Kayak may not be what you'd pay. Japanese airlines offer deals similar to JR Pass packages for foreigners. I've never done it myself, but if you're going very long distances in Japan it's a reasonable option.

In the end you have to decide whether it's worth the extra money. On this particular itinerary, for me, it wouldn't be: my pockets aren't that deep and I like train travel (especially the super reliable version of train travel that Japan offers) and either way you still get into Kanazawa that evening (or the next AM if you stop in Shinegawa and get up and catch an early train).

More simultaneous posting.

HT, maybe we should just phone Kim. I'm sure she wouldn't mind...

Whether from Narita or Haneda, I pay ¥10,000 for adding a connecting domestic flight to an international flight on ANA. If you connect in Narita, you go through immigration and a security chech there, and briefly have your bags....pitch them up, go through customs and drop them again. Easy.

If you connect using Haneda same thing except you take your bags with you on the bus. It's dead easy, too, but takes more time. Unless you arrive at Narita mid-day when there is no connection for a long time then it's hardly worth the time and energy. It I'd still easier than making 2 train changes to get to Kanazawa though.

Also, significant discounts are offered on the ANA website. You can book 60 days out but not before unless you book your international ticket there too. Right now flight 60 days out are showing at ¥9,700 super tabiwari fare - meaning huge discount fare. Usual discount is ¥16,009 and is just about always available. I don't think many, if any, pay full fare, which is all you will see on sites like kayak or expedia.

For what its worth, I have done the discount air ticket several times. Not the tabiwari fare(wow so cheap)that Kim is talking about but the Star Alliance Japan Airpass which is explained in the link in my post above. You just have a travel agent here issue the ticket and you pay from home before you go so you have tickets in hand when you leave home. Price currently is 11,000 yen or $127.00 US for those one way tickets but you have to be traveling on a Star Alliance carrier to qualify. But I would try the the Tabiwari fare that Kim suggest first as it is cheaper. I would try buying on the ANA website soon or call the 800 number listed for help.

Aloha!

You are all gonna walk away from me when I ask you this BUT how unreasonable does a quote from INSIDEJAPAN sound for 19 nights, limo to airport initial, including the railpass, lodging in the upper 3/4 area - rail pass, others transport , 4 all day tours including the traditional Japan stay with hot springs bath in room, meals, etc. at Ichinoyu Honkan - two people $9916.00 - ?? Barb

I can't believe we fell for this troll. I our haste to help I never did the precursory check and I wish I had,lol.
Did you have fun fooling us Barb? Were we gullible enough for you?

Are you going to leave your three children home by themselves this trip to Japan? Should be a fun trip to Japan a week after you and the kids come back from 3 weeks in Italy? Don't your children start school in Sept like ever other child in the states? The Euro board caught on to you faster than we did. They are not as nice there are they,lol?

Oh....and yes pay the travel agent his $9916.00 today. Better than any deal I can think of especially since you have your plane tickets already. This is your lucky day!

alright so their not your childrem

Update me, please, HT, as I've missed whatever transpired on the Europe board and don't see anything too obviously out of whack in what OP's got posted there, though of course it may have been deleted by now.

It did cross my mind more than once that this was a troll, but in the end it doesn't bother me, as somebody may still see the info provided by Fodorites and benefit from it. Unless of course Fodor's decides to delete the thread entirely, which I think would be unfortunate.

I apologize to any of you whom think I am anything other than an individual and husband trying to sort this trip out. I have just NOT had any luck securing hotels for the time frames - yesterday I found out there was a fall fesitval and that is why I could not get anything in Takayama which was still leaving me in Kyoto on another weekend. I am beside myself and yes do have flights so I just thought I'd explore another option and simply wanted to know if this was in the ballpark. I never meant to imply anything but I just can't seem to put it together on my own this time around. I don't know what you all mean by a "troll" etc but I am just a losto individual and I keep thank each of you for all your time and effort. I did not know it was inappropriate to ask for advice on a company. Sincerely, B arb

It's fine to ask about a company and even recommend a company, but it's not okay to pretend to be somebody without a financial stake in a commercial enterprise and then recommend it. Technically this individual would be shill, not a troll. A troll simply delights in upsetting people (usually by introducing controversial topics) or putting them to some effort needlessly. So the time that HT and I and KimJapan and others put into advising you on your itinerary would be time that we could have spent doing something else.

It can be hard to distinguish a troll/shill from somebody who is a little bit clueless (and it's perfectly fine to be a little bit clueless), and of course trolls know this and take advantage of it, typically presenting themselves as clueless when they aren't.

The more of a posting history that you've got at a particular site, the less likely that you'll be mistaken for a troll. On the other hand, repeated trolling by the same individual, even if using different screen names, eventually gets easier to recognize as the writing styles tend to give it away.

I'm still waiting to hear from HT, or maybe Fodor's will fill me in via email.

I'm equally lost. Info, pls.

I am following this thread as well as I do on most Japan ones for ideas for future trips. I checked the Europe Board and OP asked about a possible trip to Italy in September back in June when he/she first joined fodors as far as I can figure out. Maybe OP decided to do Japan instead of Italy..... I think I've seen that tour operator mentioned on the tripadvisor Japan forums - maybe OP is checking there as well.....

Yes to all of you I did inquire about Tuscany back a while ago (my apologizes) but I could not secure seats with our mileage from UA that is to expire in December. I am sorry for changing my trip plans. Is there any other personal history you might all want before I apologize once again. Social security number, etc. Also the thread about leaving my children at home, etc. was nice. Thanks!!! Sincerely Barb

Barb, have you ever seen the cartoon that shows a couple of dogs sitting at computer, and the one says to the other "On the internet nobody knows you're a schnauzer"? Many of us who've been involved in on-line forums have been burned by trolls and shills, and so we're sensitized to the possibility. Even long-time posters to Fodor's have occasionally been accused (incorrectly) of shilling---it's part of the price you pay for the advice.

Anyway, assuming you still want assistance, what dates are you looking at for Takayama? Hida Hanasato no Yu Takayama Ouan (on Japanican, USD 145/night for two people) looks pretty great to me. Free internet, right next to Takayama station (which is also where the bus arrives), breakfast included, rooftop open air onsen... I see availability for 10/12 through 10/17---does your Takayama stay coincide with any of those dates?